Machine for cleaning eggs



Aug. 17 1926. 1,596,285

P. s. MARTIN MACHINE FOR CLEANING EGGS Filed April 12, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet l IFIE I| Ill fig E I Ii? Q 7 fiiomy Aug. 17., 1926. 1,596,285

' P. s. MARTIN MACHINE FOR CLEANING EGGS Filed April 12, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 17,1926. I 1,5 6,285

P. S. MARTHN MACHINE FOR CLEANING EGGS Filed April 12 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 fir y 5. Whlriiit. V y

Jifonuw .Aug. 17., 1926.

- 1,596,285 P. s. MARTIN MACHINE FOR CLEANING EGGS Filed April 12, '1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 17, 1926.

Y umrea STAT as,

PERRY s; MARTIN, or nnrmrsomrnne, VIRGINIA, nssren onro -rrrn nvArr carp,

PANY, er NEW non-non, oomrnorronr; A CORBQBA'IBLQN JE QN Y Q' l-IQ T,

' MAQIEIAEE: ron ramne Bees.

enr icai imiw led; ArniLla 9.241,v ser alliq- 7 This i e tian ela e t m hin fer cleaning ggshu m re particu arly hasrei rence to machines of; i l se intioh hat employ a sand blast as a cleaning agent.

5 ln-the cleaning of eggs, it. is uslii lto first remove all lumpy and; pr m nent; a e g'n.

matterfrom the; eggs by any Well lmovvrr r -paa ory s jecting. he se tor t e. g ne al l an ng Qp.e a Q ,T and th s s:

What is donein the present instance.

7 le hi in e tioh employ a andb ast as a cleaning agent there: is no novelty claimed, h rein, n a broad sense, or the lean ng of egg y a ed: b s ihcesilph a. pro ss is well mowns and has been h reto e pr t c d h mo e or less su cess-1 Bu h re e r h lean ng of." ggs. by

a sand blast, the process, has been comparal rey s e a dexp nsive ow ng teith mam er in which the blast is obtained, and for the further reason, that it has lOGQI found exceedinglydifiicult to. get ridof thev sand af er the t er ha n p tormed its an-c,- tien- The chieii obje t o he-presen inve tion to so createand direct the sandblast that it p ferm. its unc io in a ery rapid and efiicient manner, atter which itis dis; seniinated, and While in this stateis acted apq iby an air hla t W iQ-h Latter. drives vthe sand away from t e ggs and the $11rro -neling parts and causes the sandto be emntu; ally de rered hark into, the hopp r w th the d st nd. d r par ie es remeved there rom sov that clean, sand always eperates against the eggs. 7 V I In the a on ec i n s re alsel-aid upon the fact that the air blast and-theman: r hich it is Qreateal,v ontr ll d, and direeted; are the main featureso-i thi inventien,

n he ccompany ng ra ngs hich a pa of s appl cations Figure l is a front elevatipn, partly broken away, oi; one term of machine for carrying out this inventio11- Figure 2 is a section attheline 2721 1? 'a' r is adeta l eetien. etthe 4 Qt" Figure 1 Figure 5} is a detailseetion; at theline fi -=5 of Figure 2- Fig re 6 is a section, partly broken away, atthe line fi fi jqf'Figu're Figure/Z is a section, partly broken away, atthelline 7'-.7 of Figure 2-- Figure 8 is a detail' sectional elevation of; the egg suppqrting platform with an approved forrnof rubber mat resting thereon- V Figure 9 is a top view, at the line 99, of I t e. machi e ith he over removed igur'e 10 is a detail perspective of'one of} theegg confining and manipulating fingers 'Figure 1 l is a detail broken perspective of; one Ofthe gates" that flankthefront portion of the machine, and

Figure-12 is a section at the line'12-12- o I!" ar 1.,

Similar numerals of reference denote like parts in the several figures of the drawing.

' In the deseription of this invention no stress Whateve will be laid on. details con tructionior asse ly of P r h a e to the mere enclosure ofthe essential elements, or to the securing of such parts in proper Y and cpnventional' relation, but endeavor Will he needs toconfine'this 'descrip tion, to theelen ents and functions of parts that are actually necessary to bring about the results aimed at by the invention.

Since the machine must have some sort of supporting structure and some approved 001i h uet fonv f r enc os g h .v op ra ve parts, the general. supporting structure is designated by he num al 1; While h g eraL fenelosing t ucture s. identified: y h numeraLQ. A eireular baffle structure 3 fear- 3 tures as the base portionof, the machine and issupported by pillars 45 mounted on the support] I; This structure '3 is curved out ard-ly a d inwardly so'as form baffle Wall 5 that, ever-hangs the annular egg sup.- orting platform hereinafter described, and the bottom, of; this structure has a circular opening 6 having a rim 7 and said bottom h s also a nn ehtri ser s o op ningsfi ontside said rim. s an r inary a p r plate, jgQLlI'IlfllQd, around the rim 7 and having therein a. Conoentric series of openings v1.0, s i plate being, on-fined p s io y ke p r 11, secured: to h bo tom of the p 5, and provided with a suitable handle 12 whereby said plate may be rotated to cause .theop i ngs 10.120 register more less i h the openings 8 or to close the latter altogether, as may be desired, and for the purpose presently to be described.

13 is a conventional electric motor whose shaft 14 is rigid with the hub 15 of a centrifugal sand and air blast member 16. This member 16 is an open flaring structure having spaced radial ribs 17 on its upper surface, whereby the sand is held as against swirling and is discharged centrifugally, while near the outer portion of its lower surface said member 16 has depending spaced and radially extending vanes 18 which function, during the revolution of said member, to create a suction of air so that the latter may be in the nature of a blast centrifugally delivered as will hereinafter be particularly described.

This blast member 16 has its lower portion depending through the opening 6 and substantially closes the latter, and the bottom face of this member, throughout the major portion of said face, is suitably spaced from the wall of the structure 3 and has the vanes 18 aforesaid depending therefrom as described.

From the foregoing description it will be readily understood that, when the motor 13 is rapidly revolving, any sand within the member 16 will be impelled therefrom by centrifugal force, while at the same time the air that is permitted to enter the space between the bottom of said member and the wall of the structure 3, will likewise be impelled by centrifugal force.

The invention aims to direct. this sand blast and to cause the dissemination of the same after it has performed its function, and also to direct the air blast so that it. will act against the disseminated sand and drive the latter away from the egg supporting and manipulating elements, and eventually effect the delivery of the sand back into the impeller element 16, and the description immediately following will be made with the especial end in view that a clear understanding may be had of the respective functions of these sand and air blasts.

19 is an annular platform made of cast metal and supported at suitable locations by the upper ends of the pillars 4, as shown in one instance at Figure 5. This platform is stationary, and loosely placed on it is a rubber mat 20, and immediately beneath this platform and at spaced intervals are air deflectors 21 cast with the floor of the structure 3 and upstanding therefrom which lead directly to air deflectors 21 that are secured to the side portion of the inner wall of the structure 3 and extend inwardly from said portion so as to project from the baffle wall 5.

In the immediate vicinity of the platform 19, and preferably above the same and outside the vertical plate of the outer periphery of said platform, is an annular gear 22 which is supported at suitable intervals by rotary bearings 23 journaled in bosses 24 that extend peripherally from said platform, as shown in one instance at Figure 3. One of these supports for this gear 22 is a rotary bearing 25 that is carried by a vertical shaft 26 having a collar 27 that rests upon one of the bosses 2a, the upper end of this shaft having fixed thereto a pinion 28 that meshes with the teeth of the gear 22, while the shaft, itself depends loosely through the structure 3 and a journal thimble 29 secured thereto and has fixed on its lower end a bevel gear 30 that meshes with a corresponding gear 31 carried by the shaft of a worm wheel 32, which latter in turn is'in mesh with a worm 33 that loosely surrounds a vertical pin 34 extending from the structure 1 and carries a horizontally disposed large pulley 35 that is connected by a belt 36 to a small pulley 37 rigid on the hub 15.

This description of an ordinary form of speed gearing, while rather superfluous, has been made simply for the purpose of establishing premises for the statement that the revolution of the motor is much greater than that of the gear 22; in fact, the motor makes seventeen hundred and fifty revolutions a minute, while the annular gear 22 has a speed of but one revolution a minute.

Secured to and extending from any suitable part of this ring 22 are fingers 38 which are located at desired intervals and project above and across the platform 19, and which have angular extensions 39, as shown more particularly at Figures 2, 3, and 12, a detail of one of these fingers being shown at Figure 10.

These fingers are removed from the mat 20 by a distance equal to about one-half the shorter diameter of an egg, and the fingers are spaced apart by a distance a little greater than the larger diameter thereof, so that, in effect, separate enclosures or stalls are formed for each egg, the extensions 39 functioning to prevent the eggs from rolling off the rubber mat.

- Preferably, short studs 40 project upwardly from the mat 20 at suitable locations for the purpose presently to be explained, but these studs are not of a height sufficient to oppose the fingers 38 when the ring 22 is revolved.

The air blast depends upon the amount of air admitted, by the regulation of the damper 9, into the space between the wall of the structure 3 and the lower face of the blast member 16, and this space leads upwardly beneath the platform 19, and the air blast is accordingly directed against the side and upper portions of the baffle wall 5.

But this air blast directed in this manner has a strong tendency to swirl and it is therefore necessary to provide some means igsesgzea against. the sand after the latter has 'performed its funot'ion'and become disseminated bylin'ipulsionagainst-the wall or otherwise The npper or'de'livery periphery of the blast member 16 is adjacent theegg support in platform 19, and therefore it 'Will he rediiy understood"thatfthe sand will he dr en against the eggs "and will then iinate, {either by reason of :con-

tlj with; I the eggs for the members as so'elated thereith, or by striking against the overhanging" portion oi the 'ba'll'le l 5,andj more or less f the, sand will pendedhy uprights l-2' rozn the all 5 and e 43 at tll'ehettom leading;- to

ha an Orin I} 7 V th r 16. Bn'tt'he nia or portion or the disseminated sand, containing"dust ineident to the blast and ossilolv fine articles of dirt, ivill'be "driven by the air blast to-' SILENC- ward the upper part of the'enelosin hire 2, and the manner o l eontrolling this blast sothat it \i' ill perform this funrztion ii l'nm'v be described. 7

iVheii the 'ai last is delivered from the member 16, such blast will initiallystrike the deflectors 21, whi'ch will materially over; some the tendency of the air toswirlwhieh tendency will be, for all practical"purposes,

entirely ov'erconie when the air strikes the overhanging deflectors 21 and consequently the air blast will be directed inwardly against'the disseminated sand and will pre Vent the latter from falling: and banking upeirthe eg supporting"platform, and will also keep the. gear 22 and pinion 28 free of sand. As the sand isthus driven by the air h-last, seine of the sand will drop into the hopper as haters e'iiple "ed. but the blast of air, asit seeks an ontl Will-carry 3103i; of the sand i'ipWar-dly Within the structure '2.

This. 'stiiuoture is horizontally partitio'ned so as to provide an upper compartli ht and a lower Compartment 45, inthe follow;

manner t 'te. N to Figures 9 and 12 of the drawing, an annular supportingledgeflG is secured te the inner side and back Walls of the 'strueture 2 toward the upper part thereof, and a similar ledge 47 isseiured to the innergfront ii all, and on these ledges is support-ed a sane separator and cleaner 4 8 which isa drunrlihe structure Whose upper end is Closed by a cover 49 that has a circular opening 50 therein, and suspend ithin this opening is aeornparatiyely sz drum 51 which eenipletely fills suz'h openi and depends Within the separator 48, th hotton' of this drum being eor'n'posed of fine screen 52 While the top opens inte 'th upper compartment 44.

The separator 48, near' its upper enchh. a portion of its body throughout the em p h; it into thehoppen-ll which is'sus hyigra vreaches allsurfaces oft-he eggs so thatthe means "for circuit of the latter,-;forniedbya coarse *LG niajei' portio-n ef-the sand tegether with the sand "tieles, andthe'blast' thus 1 ugh, the coarse screen 53, elly, Wh "i the sand will loJ'i ilie lower part of the se rs er l'8, but the aityst-ill seeli' Yx'lll' pass upwardly through the line screen 52 carr ing with it the dust and di to and Will then diseharge out through any suit hle pipe. etl'leading rem t-he. upper eemp'a-rtn'ient l t intof-tle outside air. Asthe' air passes upt' 11y through the fine "screen as justdesei ihed any sand-that is still present Wiil stri ethis screen, fail to pass through it an drop irrto thehottoi not the separator; 'The e s Whieh are designated loy the numeral 0 {will have a tendency to adhere to the mat owin to the iaetthat it is Ina-dent rubber, and therefore, the 38"v'i11 oause' t-he eggs to roll as they are carried along the Circuit of the-mat, thus presenting the sides efthe eggsto the action '01 the sand blast,- and, although such blast latter are, as rule, well cleaned, the et 1s reeegnized that there" will be seine Whose end surfaces are located at the outer periphery ofthe'inat, that will require a more direct action of the sand blast, and this is provided for as will now'be explained;

The studs heretofore referred to are at any desired'loeationsthroughoutithe that in someinstances at-"single stud being shiiieient, and as the eggs are drive-naming the mat their inner ends Will strike the studs, as shown in the instance of the marked 92, and the con'tinued driving action oft-he finger immediately heliind's'aid egg willcause the latterto be turned to the positien neted in the instance of the egg marked y, so that the further aetion of said finger will turn the'egg completely around so'that What was formerly its :outer end Will be eX- poeed to. the direct action of the sandblast. 1

' It is necessary that prevision'be made for r'e'inov'ingthe' Cleaned eggs'and for replacing them with that are-"to be cleaned, and a e that the portion of the mat exposed for r fiurposesh'ould not be exposed to the rust. of either the sand or air, and the eee'on'i'plishing this will now be d; flhe bafhe struoture 3 v is not extended throughoiit the entire circuit of the egg air blast seeks anoutlet it will supporting platform but terminates at the front portion of the machine so as to leave exposed an area of the platform sufficient to contain possibly half a dozen eggs, and a shield 58 suitably conformed is placed between the terminals of the structure 3, this shield having an arcuate vertical portion 59 that extends downwardly in close proximity to the inner edge of the platform 19, as shown at F igure l2, and also a horizontal portion 60 that extends inwardly so as to overhang the sand and air blasts, and this shield is secured to a closure panel 61, which latter is removably secured to the structure 2 so as to close an opening therein, designated by the numeral 62, and shown particularly at Figures 1 and 12, this panel being removed for the obvious purpose of examining the interior of such structure 2.

The inner wall of the portion 59 preferably has secured thereto and extending therefrom deflectors 63, which function to break up the swirling action of the air and sand, causing the latter to drop back into the hopper and so opposing the swirling of the air that the latter will not materially increase the swirling tendency as it strikes the deflectors 21 and 21 immediately beyond the shield 58.

The blast member 16 revolves in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 2, and therefore the air blast coming from the rear of the egg supporting and manipulating elements would have a strong tendency to be felt to some extent by the operatorsthat stand at the front of the machine and remove and replace eggs, and in order to save the operator from annoyance of this sort certain means is provided for preventing this, as will be readily understood from the following description.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 11, 6a are gates each of which has an opening 65, the periphery of the gates being such that they fit snugly within the terminals of the baffle structure 3 and are secured therein. Extending rearwardly from each gate and coincident with the opening is a hollow circular hub-like member 66 which encloses and overhangs the egg supporting platform so that it will be clear that these gates with their hubs constitute tunnels at the ends of the structure 3, through one ofwhich tun- .nels the cleaned eggs emerge while through the other tunnel uncleaned eggs enter.

One of these tunnel-like structures is, of course, exposed more or less to the air blast, and therefore this particular tunnel, which has been illustrated in detail at Figure 11, has a flexible and readily collapsible rubber shed 67 secured to its hub 66 which shed will readily yield to the passage of the eggs but will always be forced toward the egg supporting platform by the action of the air, so that this shed is exceedingly serviceable in preventing the currents of air from annoying the operators.

Integral with the terminals of the structure 3 is an arcuate rim 68 which acts as a closure tothe front of the machine imme diately outside the annular gear 22, and within this rim is a removable door 69 which is merely held in position by hooklike members 70 secured to the lower portion of the structure 3 and spaced there from, but this door while it may not be actually necessary, is nevertheless advantageous since its removal enables the operators to handle the eggs more conveniently.

The mat 2O exerts a grasping effect on the eggs, and also is movable along the platform 19, and this last named characteristic is quite necessary, since, if an egg is broken during the cleaning operation, the operator then takes hold of the mat and pulls it around until the particular locality where the egg was broken becomes available for cleaning purposes.

Since the rubber mat is not readily pulled around, it is preferred to equip this mat as shown at Figure 8, where the mat is shown secured at its outer periphery to a metal annulus 71, so that with a mat ofthis sort the pulling around by the operator is great ly facilitated.

i i hat" is claimed is 1. In an egg cleaning machine, the combination of a stationary annular egg supporting platform, a surrounding rotary ring having fingers extending above and across said platform at predetermined intervals between which fingers the eggs on the platform are confined, means for slowly revolving the ring whereby the eggs are pushed by the fingers along the platform and throughout the circuit thereof, and centrifugally operating means having its axis of rotation concentric with that of said ring for creating a sand blast that is discharged adjacent the inner periphery of said platform, whereby said eggs will be subjected to the cleaning action. of the sand.

2. In an egg cleaning machine, the combination of a stationary annular egg supporting platform, a rotary member surrounding said platform and carrying fingers which project above and across the platform whereby the eggs are pushed along said platform throughout the circuit thereof, means for creating a sand blast and causing it to act adjacent the inner periphery of said platform against the eggs, and means for causing an air blast which is delivered from the rear of the ring and acts against the sand to drive the latter away from the egg supporting and pushing elements after such sand has performed its function and has disseminated.

3. In an egg cleaning machine, the combination of a. stationary annular egg sup- IOU ' having lingers extending above an throughout causing acentrifugal Sand blaEit-hauingite 10;

, the lower porting platform, a surrounding rotary ring acress said p-latfo rni at predetermined intervalsi between which fingers the eggs on thef plattoirm confined, means for slowly re'volv ing the ring whereby the eggsare-pushed by the tinge alongthe platform" and I the circuit thereof, means. for

axis .of rotationconcentric witli thatofi said ring and its effective d scharge adjacent the inner pei'nhery of saidplat form, whereby saidfeggs 'will be subjected to the cleaning action'o'f the sand, and means :forcausing a centrifugal air blast likewise-having its axis of" rotation concentri withth'at ofsaid ring but w: its effective discharge from the rear of saidring and against thesand, whereby he iat-ter, it has performed its function and disseminated, wil'lrtbe driven inwardly. 1

l; egg cleaning machine ,comprising a stationary annular egg supporting platform, a surrounding rotary ring carrying atain-- ter-vals fingers which extend" ,above and across said:platform and terminate in angujlar extensions, a .rotaryblastmember ing radial ribs on. its upper faceand vanesuear its periphery on its lower face, said 'upuer face adjatenti said platform While; I face communicates with. -an-.a1r ;.a hopper; for automaticad space leads beneath said platform to the rear of said rotray ring, a battle structure ber leading into said hopper,

extending beneath said platform and around the ring and having a baffle plate portion that overhangs said platform, and means for revolving the blast member at a high speed and simultaneously revolving the ring at a low speed, whereby the eggs are subjected to the action of the sand and the platform and adjacent parts kept clean of sand.

5. In an egg cleaning machine, the combination of a stationary annular platform, amat loose thereon and having studs projecting therefrom, means for slowly driving the eggs throughout the circuit of said mat against said stuns and retaining the eggs on the mat, means for causing a sand blast and subjecting the eggs to the action of such blast, and means for clearing the eggs of sand.

6. In an egg cleanin machine, the combination of a stationary annular platform, a rubber mat loose thereon, and a metal annulus secured to said mat whereby the latter may be manually dragged around the platform.

7, In an egg cleaning machine, the combination of a baffle structure having'an overhanging portion and provided with deflectors, a stationary annular egg supporting platform mounted within said'structure and spaced therefrom, a rotary ring likewise supported by said structure and having spaced fingers extending above and across said platof said member, a baffle structure form, and means for creating simultaneous sand and air blasts. delivered respectively at c n geef aid n-l ttcrni and beneat a r mi and a sassinat aid. enerhanging portion; whereby the disseminated sand, will be blowninwardly- I 8'. In; aneggc; aili g ma hine, th Q 9 ;bination of a stationery annular g $1 'e s e i rm, tary memb sa ry- -iing means for driying theveggs around; the

circuit, .otsaid latta m, mechani a for creating a r n galsaiid ast having its axis of rot tion enq n w th s platformaand adapted del 'Y rv th g ei l adja en the latter f r C aning, e e

mechani al me ns. r ting an air, bl st,

also having its axis of; rotation. conce with. said p1atterm1an ;adapt dtp '51. 1 the air beneath the at-te and th 1 13 and encompassingfia dmem eI an P f m d having pa t es :e rhansies said p 0 i ,;a'11c1 torntro lers t as w e by it is caused to a d W y f m the ve gs serrate H'Ilg P a te sai send a pa'fierm d cleaning func ion and; became disee sei ae (by contact W -1 53 9 re haes ee:pe tain In n-fi s.Cle ningpatt es-th se ibination of means to a neesaedh la adhering or said, blast: t rr ?ti s-t eggs w th n-the eld at sa d iblast-af hammeans for blowing the disseminated sand within said chamber, and a screen device depending within said chamber whereby the sand is separated from dust and thelatter blown through the screen out of the machine.

10. In an egg cleaning machine, the combination of a stationary annular egg supporting platform, a rotary member surrounding said platform and carrying fingers formed its function and has disseminated,

and means for shielding the eggs and the adjacent parts from, both of said blasts throughout a predetermined portion of the front of the machine with the eggs and their support exposed;

11.'In a machine for cleaning eggs, the combination of a bafiie structure having a base portion, a curved side portion and can overhanging portion, annular egg supporting and manipulating means' supported above said base portion and spaced there from and located beneath said overhanging portion, means for creating a centrifugal sand blast having its axis of rotation concentric with said egg supporting means and directed outwardly against the latter for cleaning the eggs, a sand hopper for supplying sand for'said blast, means for creat- :ing a centrifugal air blast also having its axis of rotation concentric with said 1 supporting means and directed beneath and in therear of the latter in opposition to the sand blast whereby the disseminated sand is blown inwardly away from said egg supporting means, and sand separating and cleaning devices which receive the sand thus blown and cleanse it of dust and dirt and permit the sand thus cleaned to fall into the hopper.

ingthe eggs during the travel of the eggs throughout the circuit of the platform, whereby both ends of the eggs are subjected to the action of a sand blast.

14. In an egg cleaning machine, the combination of a baflie structure having spaced terminals at the front of the machine and provided with air deflectors, a stationary annular egg supporting platform mounted therein and spaced therefrom, a rotary ring supported within said structure and carrying means for driving said eggs throughout the circuit of said platform, means for creating simultaneous sand and air blasts delivered respectively at the inner edge of said platform and beneath the latter and ring against said overhanging portion, entrance and outlet tunnel-like structures respectively located within said terminals, and a collapsible shed secured to the entrance tunnel.

15. An egg cleaning machine comprising means for supporting the eggs, means for subjecting them to the action of a sand blast, means for impelling the eggs along said supporting means, and means for turning the eggs during the impelling thereof whereby all surfaces of the eggs will be subjected to said blast.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature hereto.

PERRY s. MARTIN. 

